San Jose Earthquakes tie LA Galaxy 0-0

Headed over to Buck Shaw Stadium for the Earthquakes vs the Galaxy. Galaxy is famously the team of Beckham and Donovan who were both absent from the game. Beckham with back spasms and Donovan with the US National Team in the Gold Cup. Quakes were missing Wondolowski to the Gold Cup as well, but still thought the Quakes had a good chance of winning.

First half saw Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts collide with Khari Stephenson.

Ricketts was replaced with backup keeper Josh Saunders, which I thought would really increase the odds of a Quakes win.

Saunders protected the goal, battling against an attacking Steven Lenhart.

But then Saunders threw an elbow on Lenhart. Lenhart picked up a yellow card for instigating the play, but Saunders was shown a red card and ejected from the game.

This left the Galaxy down a man and without a goal keeper, so Mike Magee put on Saunders jersey and gloves and came into the goal.

Second half I moved to shooting backlit, just to be on the Quakes side, knowing they were going to score.

Quakes battled it out and had some close chances.

But the game ended 0-0.

All things considered, Galaxy felt like it was a win.

Hopefully Quakes can pick up a win next week vs Thiery Henry and the Red Bulls at Stanford Stadium.

Chivas USA defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1

Headed over to Buck Shaw Stadium this afternoon for 1 pm game.

Was great to have a day game because with the sunlight I can add my 1.4x TC to make my 300mm a 420mm but it also drops my f/2.8 to f/4, which is why I really only use it when light is abundant.

It was a little cloudy but still bright day. So I was able to take full advantage of the TC and get some tighter action than usual.

Unfortunately, after a thrilling final minutes, including 4 added in stoppage time, Quakes fell to Chivas 2-1.

Afterwards, despite being obviously disappointed with the result, Chris Wondolowski still walked over to the adoring fans to walk the length of Buck Shaw thanking them for their attendance, signing autographs, shaking hands, and kick a pinata they had brought in spirit of this commercial

I didn't have a chance to edit as I headed immediately over to my next assignment for the day... read next post =)

San Jose Earthquakes tie Toronto FC 1-1

After a quick but wonderful catnap after editing/uploading rugby photos, I headed down to Santa Clara for the Quakes game against Toronto FC.

Toronto scored first.

But Simon Dawkins came up with the equalizer.

In a hard fought game with many opportunities, final whistle resulted in a 1-1 draw.

Ah, the pain of tying at home when they were so close to earning the three points!!

Big shout out to former Cal player, Stefan Frei who made some huge saves for Toronto!

Mexico defeats Paraguay 3-1

Headed over to the Oakland Coliseum today for a fun Mexico vs Paraguay game.

Mexico defeated Paraguay 3-1 and it was a celebration!!

Now I'm off to do my own celebrating for my friend's birthday. Have a great weekend! =)

US Soccer Annual General Meeting

Had a most excellent time this weekend covering the US Soccer Annual General Meeting in Las Vegas!

The first night consisted of a quick cocktail reception.

And then Jersey Boys performance!

Had to make a DVD slideshow Friday night, so after Jersey Boys took a few "environment" shots.

Included the view from my room at the Flamingo was gorgeous with the Bellagio water show running.

The next morning photographed some of the Life Members earning their buttons.

Then after shooting some rugby and heading back photographed another cocktail reception.... with a magician!

Then the dinner which included the Werner Fricker Builder Award, presented by President Sunil Gulati to Kevin Payne, president and CEO of DC United, among other distinguished titles.

Afterwards, US Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley posed for pictures with anyone who wanted one, which ended up being over 150 people!

About an hour after the dinner was scheduled to be over, Bradley even stuck around and posed with some of the catering staff and knowing the US Soccer attendees would have access to images but the catering staff wouldn't otherwise, he took the initiative to ask me how I could arrange for them to access their photos with him. Such a nice guy!!

Ended the night with a quick walk-around with my mom to enjoy the city lights of Vegas. This was about as much as I saw of Vegas, busy busy weekend. But I like to be busy and thankfully had my mom and grandma to chauffer me around, making the weekend stress free =)

Full set up: http://photos.kelleylcox.com/ussocceragm2011

Quakes tie Columbus Crew 2-2

With so many Saturday games, mid-week games seem like such a special treat! Some sweeter than others.

After a tough loss last Saturday, it looked like quakes were headed there again with the Crew scoring in the 4th minute. But Arturo Alavarez answered the next minute.

A 69th minute score put Columbus up 2-1, but then Chris Wondolowski (my grandma's favorite player because he's from Danville) got the equalizer on a header.

Unfortunately quakes couldn't score again for the win, but hey, a tie is better than a loss.

All my photos up on ISIphotos.com

Mexico beats New Zealand 2-0

Am currently down in LA for two very good reasons 1) to photograph the Mexico vs New Zealand game 2) to visit my friend Mary

Had a chance to shoot Mexico vs New Zealand at the Rose Bowl. It wasn't necessary that I cover it considering ISI already had great shooter Michael Janosz down here to cover. But I couldn't pass on the opportunity to catch a game at the Rose Bowl (since Cal hasn't given me that opportunity! haha) especially Mexico. I have covered Mexico games in Oakland and San Francisco and thought it was crazy... I hadn't seen nothin!

SF and Oakland both fill the game with only Mexico fans, games are announced in Spanish, the whole bit. But this was crazy, 90,000 people! It was A-team guys, that will more or less be the roster for World Cup this summer, with the exception of my favorite, Memo Ochoa, who apparently, is so secured to start, he didn't even need to play this friendly to prove himself... I'm happy for him, but boo! haha)

I was getting emails from the communications director throughout the week, "expect heavy traffic"... "limited seats remaining, expect heavy traffic, arrive early"..."sold out, expect heavy traffic, arrive early, parking lots open at 2"... the game was at 8. That means the parking lot was open 6 hours before game time... talk about a tailgate party! This got the best of Mike left his house at 4:30 and couldn't even get to the stadium with all the traffic, let alone worry about where to park! Poor guy.

I on the other hand, arrived there at 11:30. They ran out of parking passes when I picked up my credential the night before but the woman told me, if I got their early they might let me in the lot with just the credential... so I got there before they were even monitored and saved myself the $20.

The game was GREAT... first half I shot Mexico after learning my lesson, but half ended 0-0... second half I still shot Mexico, and I was rewarded! Two goals... one had jube in the other direction but the other one was in front of me =)

In the end it started raining (I had checked the weather 12 times before coming out, no rain) so I had to take off my jacket and put it over my camera... I know that after getting wet, I will be completely functioning, my camera... not so much. Gotta have priorities. Thankfully it was pretty warm outside.

Didn't get out of the stadium until after midnight and had to wake up poor Mary who I'm staying with. Despite having to be up at 6 the next morning she didn't seemed too bothered... she's too nice!!

This one is for my roommate who is very happy to have Giovani Dos Santos playing for his Turkish club team... silly face =)

Today I took both my cameras and one lens into CPS to get them fixed/cleaned so I am without! Good thing I didn't have to turn in my phone or computer, I wouldn't know what to do with myself!! Haha ;-)